Health Ministry commends Dutch doctor

The Ministry of Health on Monday commended a Dutch medical doctor, Dr (Mrs) Emeke Bossman, for her pioneering role in the establishment of the country's first mutual health insurance scheme at Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Dr. Sam Akor of the Ministry of Health in Accra made the commendation when he stood in for Dr Kwaku Afriyie, the sector Minister, to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the third national annual peer review conference of Mutual Health Organisations (MHOs).

The three-day conference is under the theme, "The National Health Insurance Act 650: The challenges and the way forward for mutual health organizations (MHOs) movement in Ghana".

Representatives of Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), World Bank, German Technical Development (GTZ), World Health Organisation, International Labour Organisation and the Clergy, among others, are attending the conference.

The Conference is aimed at strengthening the knowledge of participants in the organisation of the scheme to ensure its successful operation in their areas.

Dr Akor said Dr Bossman, who has worked in the country since the 1970s, helped to establish the first-ever community-based health insurance scheme in the country at Nkoranza in 1992.

She was also instrumental in the establishment of seven health posts in the Nkoranza District.

Dr Akor said the government is involved in the establishment of the scheme throughout the country as a complement to existing ones, whilst ensuring the establishment of new ones.

Alhaji Dr Mohammed Bin Ibrahim, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services, said six out of the 13 districts in the region have established the scheme and the rest are expected to establish theirs before the end of next year.